Franklin Price Poet Rhyme

The Nine and the Flag

The Nine and the Flag
By Franklin Price
7/9/2015

Many gathered in church, in praise of the Lord.
They welcomed a stranger; one they could not afford.
He sat there among them for an hour or more.
Then brought down destruction there on the church floor

Mortally wounding, nine of the devout,
to start a race war, for him never a doubt.
Never a thought that he would not succeed,
that riots would start because of his deed.

The ones left alive, in the church,  on that night,
Called on their faith, and rather than fight,
prayed to the heavens, “Lord what shall we do?”
They heard, “ Offer forgiveness, it will bring peace to you”

Their faith held them strong, and forgiveness they sent,
no riots, no violence as the days came and went
Although only one had executed this deed,
a change was required, to lessen the bleed

A symbol of war, the confederate flag,
flying over the capital, for a long time a drag.
To some it is racial, flying there could not last,
pass a law to remove it,  help heal wounds of the past.

The Senate and House brought the bill to the floor,
with a push from the governor, for a vote of two thirds or more
A struggle was there but the law soon was passed
The flag was removed but not division at last.

The nine and the flag, forever entwined.
A terrible action of death to remind,
of crossed bars with stars, in a government place,
to some a tradition, to some a matter of race

All gives a new start, a place to begin
To let the nine die, for nothing, a sin
Don't let a proud flag be the start of the end
No matter the color, offer your hand as a friend.

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